Kota Kinabalu: City Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir launched the Lions Club international Peace Poster with the 2014-2015 Theme "Peace, Love and Understanding" at Lintasan Deasoka on Sunday.

Speaking at the event he congratulated Lions Club for organising the international annual art contest for children where Lions Clubs worldwide sponsors the contest for children in their respective local schools.

"The event today is aimed at promoting peace, love and understanding.

We can see today that around the world there is much conflict and unrest where people are fighting each other.

So that is why the event today (Sunday) which promotes peace, love and understanding is important.

"This competition which is a art contest is where children aged 11 to 13 years old expresses their thoughts on the theme of Peace, Love and Understanding. It will also help create an awareness and understanding on them so when they are older they can also do their part to help promote the theme of peace, love and understanding," he said.

Madingkir said Sabahans were very fortunate as although there was more than 30 ethnic groups in the State, everyone can still all live together in peace and harmony and this is something that should be encouraged and fostered.

According to Lions District Governor 308-A2 Datuk Betty Wong, the peace poster was launched by Lions Club International each year and it has attracted thousands of entries annually.

She said since it was launched 26 years ago, the peace poster contest have attracted nearly 8 million entries from over 100 countries.

"The theme this year is "Peace Love and Understanding." We aim to encourage young people from aroudn the world to express their visions of peace. Through Love and Understanding we will bring our world a bette and peaceful place to stay."

Twenty four International peace posters are selected each year, representing the work of approximately 400,000 young participants worldwide. The posters advance through several judging levels; local, district, and international.

At the international level judges from the art, peace, youth, education and media communities select a grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners. Locally the peace poster contest will be carried out in schools until September this year and international winners will be notified on or before February 1 next year.

The international grand prize winner will receive USD5,000 and a trip to a special award ceremony with the sponsoring club president and two family members at Lions Day with the United Nations while each of the 23 merit award winners will receive a cash award of USD500 and a certificate of achievement.

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